I say it a lot: It’s All About Timing. Sometimes players want a bit more of an understanding about why that is:
Can you please elaborate more on the timing of the player pressing the spin button having to do with winning or not?
Christina
Slot machines have millions of potential outcomes. The random number generator operates continuously, with at least 100 outcomes per second that it can point to. The outcome of a slot is determined at the time a wager is made.
So when you press that spin button, you set in motion a series of steps that ultimately lead to the random number generator. There’s a few practical things that happen upfront (the machine verifies if you have enough money to place that wager, for instance), but ultimately that exact timing is important because if you were to push the button even a fraction of a second earlier or later, the outcome would be different, primarily because of how that random number generator functions.
Now, the reality is we only ever know the outcome we actually got at the time we placed our wager. We wouldn’t know if the earlier or later timing would be better, worse or the same. And over time, the house edge on a slot machine means you will lose over the long term – that’s how they’re designed, and how the casino makes its money.
But gamblers are superstitious folk, and this is a great example of one that doesn’t hurt or help a player really. But it can make us feel better, because emotions are also a part of gambling. A long, frustrating run without a big win or bonus can make slots be less fun. So shaking it off with a few rapid fire spins, or doing something to shake things up, can feel good in the moment.
If it then works out, great, and that’s fun too! If it doesn’t, it can be another indication it may be time to move on or take a break. But because the outcome of your spin is based on the timing of the button press, that’s why I mention it, as it’s a basic function of the slot. If you get a bad outcome, you can only blame yourself and not the machine – you had bad timing!
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